Elevate your meals with this raspberry balsamic glaze. Using just 3 simple ingredients, this glaze instantly improves the flavor of any dish by adding a unique depth of flavor.
Jump to:
This homemade raspberry balsamic glaze is an ultimate crowd-pleaser with a perfect balance between tangy, sweet, and zesty.
💌 Why I Love This Recipe
- Made using 3 ingredients only
- Perfect for salads, pizza, grilled veggies or desserts
- Or use it as a bread dipper
- Minimal equipment required
- Beginner-friendly and easy to make in batches
🛒 Ingredients
- Raspberries: Provide a tangy flavor and floral aroma. I recommend using fresh raspberries but frozen will work too.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Form the base of our recipe. I used balsamic vinegar of Modena with a strong natural flavor. Not to be confused with balsamic glaze (which is a lot thicker - see the vinegar vs. glaze difference).
- Maple Syrup: Adds a gentle sweetness to balance out the tangy vinegar. It can be replaced with agave syrup, white or brown sugar, etc.
🥄 Equipment
- Medium-sized pan: For preparing the glaze.
- Silicone spatula: For stirring the mixture.
- Potato masher or fork: To gently mash the raspberries
- Fine-mesh sieve or strainer: To ensure a smooth texture.
- Small bowl and glass jar: For serving & storing the finished glaze.
👣 Steps
Tip: This is just a super quick overview. See the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for detailed instructions and exact ingredient details.
Before starting, rinse the raspberries to remove any dirt. Gently pat dry or leave out on a kitchen towel for 5-10 minutes to air dry.
1. Combine. Add all the ingredients to a non-stick pan. Mash the raspberries and stir to combine.
2. Heat & Simmer. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer until it thickens - approx 10 minutes.
3. Strain. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any seeds and pulp.
4. Cool & Serve. Let it cool to room temperature and serve.
If desired, decorate with some fresh raspberries on top.
How do you know it's ready? It should leave a clean trail when you run the spatula along the bottom of the pan (see photo 2).
💡 Recipe Success Tips
- Use Ripe Raspberries: This is the single most important thing that will determine the result. If ripe raspberries aren't available, use frozen ones as they are usually picked at their ripest.
- Stir Regularly: To prevent the mixture from burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Minimize the Smell: Vinegar has a strong, pungent scent especially when heated. Open the windows and turn on the extraction hood to minimize the smell.
- Taste then Adjust: Once strained, taste the mixture to see if you'd like to add some more sweetness.
Take it to the next level? Add a dash of freshly cracked black pepper which helps emphasize that sweet, raspberry flavor.
🤔 FAQ
Yes, you can use frozen raspberries. Let them thaw (defrost) a little before using them.
Place any leftovers in an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week. Do not freeze.
Continue to simmer it on medium heat until it reduces further to achieve the desired consistency.
🍋 Flavor Variations
- Citrus-Infused: Add orange or lemon zest to the mixture for a citrus-inspired variation.
- Mint or Basil: Add a few leaves of fresh mint or basil during the simmering process for a refreshing, herbal twist.
- Raspberry Juice: Double the raspberry content, by substituting some of the vinegar with raspberry juice.
🥗 Serving Suggestions
- Salad Dressing: Drizzle it over mixed salad greens like my vibrant spinach or rocca salad.
- Bread Dip: There's nothing like dipping this in freshly baked bread like this garlic twist bread or dinner rolls.
- Desserts: Use sparingly on vanilla ice cream, fruit tarts, or chocolate desserts.
- Pizza: Simply drizzle it over your favorite pizza (it pairs so well with this green pizza sauce).
- Fresh Fruit: Grab a bowl of your favorite fruit and add a dash of the glaze for a tangy variation.
- Root Vegetables: Give an unexpected twist to your roasted potatoes, carrots, squash, beets, or turnips.
👋 Conclusion
This homemade raspberry balsamic vinegar is a true crowd-pleaser with its perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors. Try it in a surprising variety of dishes to delight your taste buds!
Tried my raspberry balsamic glaze? Your comments, ratings & reviews all help bring this recipe to more new readers.
Got questions about making this recipe? Simply use the comments section below to get in touch - I am happy to help you!
🍴Recipe
Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar Glaze - Easy Reduction
EQUIPMENT
- Medium-sized pan for preparing the glaze
- Silicone spatula for stirring the mixture
- Potato masher or fork to gently mash the raspberries
- Fine-mesh sieve or strainer to ensure a smooth texture
- Small bowl and glass jar for serving & storing
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup (235 ml) balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup (120 g) raspberries
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or more to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Rinse. Rinse the raspberries to remove any dirt. Gently pat dry or leave out on a kitchen towel for 5-10 minutes to air dry.
- Combine. Add all the ingredients to a non-stick pan. Mash the raspberries and stir to combine.
- Heat & Simmer. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer until it thickens - approx 10 minutes.
- Check. To see if it's ready, run a silicone spatula along the bottom of the pan. It should leave a clean trail.
- Strain. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any seeds and pulp.
- Cool & Serve. Let it cool to room temperature and serve. If desired, decorate with some fresh raspberries on top.
Notes
-
- Tip 1 - Use Ripe Raspberries: If ripe raspberries aren't available, use frozen ones as they are usually picked at their ripest.
-
- Tip 2 - Stir Regularly: To prevent the mixture from burning & sticking.
-
- Tip 3 - Minimize the Smell: Open the windows and turn on the extraction hood to minimize the smell of vinegar.
-
- Tip 4 - Taste then Adjust: Once strained, taste the mixture to see if you'd like to add some more sweetness.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional information above is calculated automatically. The author of this post cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of this data.
Leave a Reply